Pursuing Sheba, Bichri’s Son |
2 Samuel 20:1-26 The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
And [it] happened to be, there [was] a [wicked] man of Belial, [named] Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet & said, We have no part in David, & neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel. |
So, every man of Israel [stopped] from [following] after [king] David, & followed Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, but the men of Judah, from Jordan even to Jerusalem, [stuck with] their king. |
And David came to his house [in] Jerusalem, & king [David] took his 10 [mistresses,] whom he had left to [take care of] [his] house, & put them [into seclusion,] & fed them, but [wasn’t intimate with] them. |
So, they were shut up, [a.k.a. secluded,] living in widowhood, [until] the day of their death. [2 Samuel 16:21-22 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s [mistresses, that] he has left to keep the house. And all Israel shall hear that you are [loathed by] your father. |
Then the hands of all [who] are with you, shall be strong. So, they spread a tent [for] Absalom upon the top of the house, & Absalom [was intimate] with his father’s [mistresses] in the sight of all Israel.] |
Then, king [David] said to Amasa, Assemble the men of Judah within 3 days [to] me, & you be here. So, Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he [stayed] longer than the [arranged] time, [that king David] had appointed [to] him. |
And David said to Abishai, Shall Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, now do more harm [to] us than Absalom did? You take your lord’s servants, & pursue after him, lest he [goes into] fenced cities, & [escapes] [from] us. |
And Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, & all the mighty men, went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba, [Bichri's] son. When they were at the [large rock that] is in Gibeon, Amasa went [in front of] them. |
And Joab's garment that he had put on, was [strapped] to him, & upon [it's belt strapped to his waist, a sword [was] fastened in [its] sheath. As [Joab] went [forward, the sword] fell out. And Joab said to Amasa, [Are] you in [good] health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with [his] right hand to kiss him. |
But Amasa [paid] no [attention] to the sword in Joab’s hand. So, [Joab struck Amasa there with] [the sword] in the 5th rib, & his [intestines spilled out on] the ground, & [Joab didn’t need to] [strike Amasa] again, [because] he [eventually] died. |
So, Joab & Abishai, his brother, pursued after Sheba, [Bichri’s] son. And one of Joab’s men stood by [the stabbed] [Amasa,] & said, Let him go after Joab, [who favors] Joab, & he, [who] is for David. |
And Amasa wallowed, [a.k.a lay writhing,] in his blood in the [middle] of the highway. And when [that] man saw that all the people stood still, he removed [Amasa’s] [body] out of the highway, & into the field, & [threw] a cloth upon him, when [all who] came by [Amasa] stood still. |
When [Amasa] was removed out of the highway, all the people [followed] on after Joab, to pursue Sheba, [Bichri’s] son. [Sheba] went through all the tribes of Israel, [all the way] to Abel, & to Beth Maachah, & all the Bethrites. And they were gathered together, & also went after [Sheba.] |
And they came, & [surrounded Sheba] in Abel of Beth Maachah. And they [put] up an [embankment, a.k.a. bank of dirt,] against the city, & [that] stood in the trench. And all the people, [who] were with Joab, battered the wall, to [knock] it down. [Ezekiel 21:22 At his right hand [side] was the divination [to go to] Jerusalem, & to appoint captains, to [shout orders for] the slaughter, & to lift up [their] voices, shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, & to cast [an embankment,] & build a fort.] |
Then, a wise woman cried out of the city, Hear [me,] I pray [that] you, hear & say to Joab, Come near [here, so] I may speak with you. When [Joab came close] to her, the woman [asked, Are] you Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then, she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. |
He answered, [I'm listening.] Then, she [said,] They [used] to speak in old [times,] saying, They shall surely ask [for advice] at Abel, so they ended the matter. I am one of [those who] are [peaceful] & faithful in Israel. [But] you [seek] to destroy a city & a mother in Israel. |
Why [would] you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? Joab answered, & said, Far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter isn’t [this way.] But Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, a man [from] Mount Ephraim, [has] lifted up his hand against [king] David. |
Deliver only [Sheba,] & I will [leave] from the city. The woman said, [Look, Sheba’s] head shall be thrown over the wall to you. In her wisdom, the woman went to all the people, & they cut off the head of Sheba, [Bichri's] son, & [threw] it out to Joab. |
And [Joab] blew a trumpet, & they [withdrew] from the city, & every man [went] to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. Now, Joab was over all the [army] of Israel, & Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, was over the Cherethites & Pelethites. |
And Adoram was over the tribute, [a.k.a. forced labor,] & Jehoshaphat, [Ahilud’s] son, was [the] recorder. And Sheva was [the] scribe, [who recorded everything,] & Zadok & Abiathar were the priests. And also Ira, the Jairite, was [David’s] chief ruler, [a.k.a. leader.] |